Fence-post.



No. 774,013. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904. F. L. WILLIAMS.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1904.

No MODEL.

Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. WVILLIAMS, OF LAFAYETTE, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,013, dated November1, 1904.

Application filed March 30, 1904.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lafayette, in the county of Stark and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and Ido hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fence-posts, and more particularly to theclass of metal fenceposts, the object of the invention being to providea post which may be made of sheet metal with a base that will not besubject to rust and which will be strong and durable, a further objectof the invention being to provide means for fastening fence-wires to theposts at any desired height and in such manner to prevent displacementof the wires vertically of the posts.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is an elevation showing a post having a fence-wire securedthereto, the whole embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the post with the wirefastening means removed. Fig.3 is a'transverse section through the post, the wire-fastening devicebeing shown in top plan. Fig. 4c is a vertical section from the post.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a post comprising a bodyportion 10, which is formed from sheet metal and which is taperedgradually from its lower to its upper end. Abase 11 is provided for thepost, this base being of suitable plastic material or of some vitrifiedsubstance of proper strength and which will protect the lower end of thepost eifectively against rust.

The base 11 of the post may have any specific cross-sectional shape,with the exception that it should-be larger at its lower end, and formedlongitudinally of the base are flanges or wings 12. It will be notedthat in the present instance the base is substantially Square incross-section and the flanges 12 project from the corners thereof.

In the body 10 of the post and extending from the top of the base 11 toa point near to the top of the body of the post there is formed SerialNo. 200,720. (No model.)

a longitudinal slot 13 for reception of a wire, fastening or a portionthereof, and transversely of the post at intervals there are providedstrengthening-braces 14, which may be secured in place by riveting andwhich prevent spreading of the slot 13.

In connection with the fence-post are employed wire-fastening devices,each consisting of a pair of semicircular members 15 and 16,-

which are pivotally connected and which jointly encircle the post. Thesemicircular members are clamped upon the post by means of a screw 18,engaged through ears at the free ends of the members. The member 15 ofeach wire-fastening device has a finger 17, which projects upwardly andinwardly therefrom, so that when the fastening device is clamped uponthe post the finger will extend upwardly and then inwardly over thefencewirel9, with its free end engaging the slot 13.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a longitudinallyslottedfence-post, of a wire-fastening device comprising semicircular membershinged at one end and having ears at their opposite ends, aclamping-screw engaged through the ears, and a wire-engaging fingercarried by one of the semicircular members, said finger having its basespaced from the face of the post to receive a fence-wire between it andthe post and having its upper end engaged in the slot of the post.

2. The combination with a fence-post comprising a tubular sheet-metalbody portion having a longitudinal slot therein and transverse bracesarranged to hold the sides of the slot in fixed relation, ofwire-fastening devices each comprising semicircular members disposedaround the post, said members being hinged at one end and being providedat their opposite ends with means for clamping them about the post, oneof said members having a wire-engaging finger, the face of which isspaced from the face of the post to receive a wirebetween it and thepost and the free end of which is engaged in the slot of the post.

In-testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

FRED JoNEs, EDDIS WILLIAMS.

